Naval captain's ancient weapons gifted to Orkney

Weapons dating back to the 1600s which belonged to a naval captain from Orkney have been gifted to the islands.

Captain James Moodie died in 1725.

He had received a scimitar and scabbard, a mace, and a dagger and sheath from Archduke Charles of Austria in 1707.

Relatives have now donated the items to Orkney, and they are expected to go on public display later this year.

Captain Moodie served as a Commodore in the Royal Navy.

His naval career spanned five decades, against a backdrop of power struggles across Europe.

It was back in Orkney however that in October 1725 he was shot in the chest in Kirkwall, amid what was has been described as a family feud.

He died from his wounds, aged 80.

To date there has only been a pair of his spectacles he on display in The Orkney Museum.

Over the years, the council's museums team made efforts to get the fuller collection to Orkney.

Now, after what described as an "unexpected turn of events" when the family offered the items as a donation, the items are in Orkney.

Completing the collection is a portrait of Captain Moodie, and an autographed letter from Archduke Charles of Austria commending him.

Nick Hewitt is the culture team manager for Orkney Islands Council.

"We're all absolutely thrilled to be in this position," he said.

"From almost giving up any hope of acquiring this collection, to now have welcomed specialist fine art movers carrying the artefacts here to Orkney is simply wondrous - we're still pinching ourselves."

He added: "The intention is for the collection to be on display to the people of Orkney from May - following the necessary conservation assessments, careful mounting of the artefacts, and the production of a display worthy of this spectacular acquisition."